Packed with raw, gritty energy and metaphorical lyricism, ‘House of Leaves’ marks the latest artistic chapter emerging from William J. Sullivan’s production prowess. Teaming up with fellow hip-hop explorers ShrapKnel – New York-based duo featuring PremRock and Curly Castro – the talented creative and visionary crafts a rather eclectic and hard-hitting production, a soulful-flavoured piece drenched in bouncy grooves and fuzzy bass matter. Whichever way you look at it, this is hip-hop at its best, a slice of cool grittiness and lyrical fierceness.
We have to admit, we appreciate the old-school flair behind the track; it’s a breath of fresh air these days. ShrapKnel do a good job on the vocals, enriching the sonic formula with their dark and slick bars, here particularly inspired by Mark Z. Danielewski’s cult novel House of Leaves and its otherworldly, multi-layered storytelling. That said, such a seemingly dystopian tune is also rooted in reality and political charge, evoking the crumbling pillars of American society.
Delving deeper into the record, William J. Sullivan explains: “The story’s about a house that keeps expanding inside. New hallways. New rooms. The book’s non-traditional format with different fonts, colours, and randomness is similar to how I put tracks together. I pull from so many genres: metal, classical, jazz, and hip-hop.”
Recommended! Discover ‘House of Leaves’ on Spotify:
